Speed-governor.



L. RHODES.

SPEED GOVERNOR.

3 Wm w w 3. MM 3 m% 6 m MW 3 R u m m A5 6 t 8, m M 1 WWW L. RHODES.

SPEED GOVERNOR.

APPLIOATION FILED rum, 1912. RENEWED SEPT.25,1913.

Patented Dec. 16, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

fl Nf a'rn'r Fries.

LEVI RHODES, OF SJPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

SPEED-GOVERNOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 16,1913.

Application filed February 3, 1912, Serial No. 675,258. RenewedSeptember 25, 1913. Serial No. 791,859.

To all whom it may concern 3e it known that I, Lnvl Rironns, a citizenof the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane andState of ashington, have invented certain new and useful luuirovel'nentsin Spced-Goverimrs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and i'lseful imprca'ements in automaticspeed governors designed for use in controlling the speed of gravityfire escapes, elevators and all such speed devices requiring operationat a uniform and predetermined speed, and the primary object of theinvention is to pro vide a governor of this type so designed as tosecure a high degree of efficiency in the control function thereof andto accomplish this in a manner to insure a smooth uni form motion in theoperation thereof.

The invention also has for its object a construction that will bereliable at all times, durable and compact, and susceptible of asensitive degree of adjustment and at the same time proof againstderangement under all conditions of service.

lVith the above and other objects in view the invention consists incombining with a rotary governor element carrying friction de ices foroperation upon a friction rim, a wheel carrying fans adapted to becontrolled by centrifugal force, the said rotary elements beingyield-ably connected to rotate together and to permit of a change intheir speeds with relation to each other, and means whereby the frictiondevices will be operated through said relative change of speeds toproduce friction in accordance therewith and maintain a substantiallynormal speed of rotation.

The invention also consists in certain other novel features in thearrangement and construction of parts, all as hereinafter described, andspecifically set forth in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, is a front view of the governor,the face plate of the casing being removed; Fig. 2, a vertical sectionview taken on the line a;a;' on Fig. 1; Fig. 3, an enlarged detail,showing a portion of the fan wheel and one of the fans attached thereto;Fig. 1, an enlarged detail, showing the underside of one end of therotary element carrying the brake shoes, and illustrating the manner ofconnecting the inner and outer brake shoes; Fig. 5, an enlarged detailof one of the rock shafts for operating the brake shoes, and Fig. 6, anend view of one of the rock shafts.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a shallow circular case whichnot only incloses the governor but forms a mounting therefor, and ispreferably a single casting of metal, provided with a cover or laceplate (not shown), and cast with the shaft bearing 2, and the airarresting plates 3,disp0sed crosswise of the case at intervals aroundthe inner circular walls thereof and extending inwardly sufficientlybarely to escape contact with the revolving governor. Also cast with thecase 1 on the inner wall thereof is an annular friction rim 4: arrangedconcentric to the shaft bearing 2.

Rigidly fixed upon the shaft 5, which is an extension from any suitabledevice to which the governor is applied, is a rotary element 6 in theform of a balanced beam provided with a hub or central bearing 7. Thisbeam extends slightly beyond the friction rim at each end, and isprovided at each end with vertically arranged bearings S and 9, arrangedrespectively on the outer and inner sides of the friction rim. Into eachof these hearings S and 9 is fitted a rock shaft 10 as shown in Fig. 5,provided at its lower end with a collar 11 below which is formed a camor eccentric portion 12 having a crank pin 13 projecting therefrom. Atthe upper end these rock shafts are formed with a tapered threaded,reduced portion 11 to receive crank arms 15 which are secured rigidlythereon by nuts 16. These rock shafts are the means for connecting tothe rotary b am (3 the brake shoes or hands of which there is an innerpair 17 and 1S and an outer pair 1.) and 20, and also form the means forexpanding and contracting each pair against the friction rim. Thesebrake shoes are more or less elastic and of semi-circular form, eachpair conforming substantially to the friction surface of the rim tagainst which they are designed to bear. Each brake shoe is provided atits end with a flat portion or lug, designated respectively by thenumerals 17, 18, 19 and 20, which lugs are adapted to overlap each otherin pairs as shown, the upper lug having a hearing opening 21 to receivethe eccentric 12, and the lower lug having a bearing opening 22 toreceive and fit the crank pin 13, thus by the action of the eccentricportions 12 and 13 on the brake bands through the rocking of the rockshafts,

each pair of brake shoes will be contracted or expanded according to thedirection of rotation. is shown in the drawings the rock shafts foroperating the inner shoes by rotation in one direction will expand theshoes against the friction rim, while the same movement or rotation ofthe rock shafts that o )GIHttS the outer pair of brake shoes will act todraw them together tightly around the friction rim, and vice versa.

The four rock shafts shown, as will be seen especially by reference toFig. 1, are connected up to operate in unison, a main operating leverbeing connected rigidly with the rock shaft 24: which is provided withoppositely extending crank arms 15, one arm being connected by a linkbar 25 to the arm of its adjacent rock shaft, and the other arm of rockshaft 2 connected to the arms of the rock shafts at the opposite end ofthe rotating beam by means of a link bar 26 which is so formed as to becapable of adjustment in its length, so that any undue wear of the partsmay be provided against. The main operating lever 23 extends to thecenter of rotation and at that point is provided with a fork 27 in whichis mounted on set screws 28 a yoke or eccentric strap 29, in which worksan eccentric which governs the throw of said main lever to and from themedial line of the rotary beam element.

The eccentric 30 is formed on the hub 31 of a two spoke wheel carrying arim 32 of substantially the width of the case 1, and is provided withinner and outer rim flanges 38 which extend outwardly and confine thefans 34,- which are pivotally mounted on pintles mounted in the lugs 36.These fans are adapted to lie against the rim 32 and are normallymaintained thereagainst by the coil springs 3'? shown in Fig. 3. Thefans under the action of centrifugal force during rapid rotation of thefan wheel will open outward and present resistance on the air within thecase, the currents of the air instead of being carried around the casewithout OlJStlllCtiOlL being arrested by the bafiles or plates 8 whichresist to a great extent the air currents thereby increasing theelliciency as a retarding agency to the fan wheel. Each fan is providedwith a stop arm 38 which limits the out ward swing of the fan andassists by centrifugal action thereon to increase the efl'iciency of theretracting spring.

The fan wheel is mounted to rotate in depend ntly of the rotary elementcarrying the brake shoes but in order that these two rotary elements mayrot-ate together but admit of a relative retarding action between them astill convolute spring is attached to a spoke if the fan wheel at 39 andafter making several coils is secured at its other end to the hub of thebrake carrying element 6 at the point 40. Thus this torsion spring willpermit of a fan wheel changing its relation to the brake carryingelement under the retarding action of the fan wheel, which action is inproportion to the rate of speed at which the governor revolves, and thischange in relationship of said rotary elements causes the eccentric 30which rotates with the fan wheel, to rotate within the strap 29 thusthrowing the main operating lever in or out according to the position ofthe eccentric and thus imparting to the rock shafts a correspondingdegree of movement. The torsion spring tensioned by the retardingmovement of the fan wheel promptly reacts to relieve the frictiondevices the moment the speed of rotation reaches the no "mal.

Thus it will be seen from the foregoing that by a simple and compactconstruction that there has been provided a governor with a rotarycontrolling element which operates in a gradual and effective manner onan elastic and resisting body of air and being itself under the controlof centrifugal force after a predetermined speed of rotation has beenreached.

lVhat I claim is 1. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotaryshaft, a supporting element rotated thereby and carrying one or morebrake shoes, a stationary friction rim, a fan wheel yieldably connectedto said support ing element, and means for controlling the pressure ofthe brake shoes on the friction rim, operated by the variation in thespeed of the fan wheel with relation to the speed of rotation of saidbrake shoe supporting element, substantially as described.

2. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby and carrying one or more brake shoes, astationary friction rim, a rotatable element yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, means for retarding said rotary element, controlledby centrifugal force, means for applying pressure to the brake shoes,and means for controlling said pressure means operated by and responsiveto the variation in speed between said rotary element and the brakecarrying ele ment, substantially as described.

3. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby and carrying one or more brake shoes,astationary friction rim, a rotary element yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, retarding fans carried by said rotary element andcontrolled by centrifugal force, means for placing said fans under aretracting pressure, means for applying pressure to the brake shoes, andmeans for controlling said pressure means operated by and responsive tothe variation in speed between the element carrying the brake shoes andthe element carrying the fans, substantially as described.

4-. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby and carrying one or more bralze shoes, astationary :friction rim, a rotary element yicldably connected to saidsupporting element to rotate therewith and permit a change ofrelationship during rotation, retarding fans carried by said rotaryelement, controlled by centrifugal force, means for placing said fansunder a retracting pressure, means for applying pressure to the brakeshoes, and means for controlling said pressure means, operated by andresponsive to variation in speed between the brake carrying element andthe fan carrying element, substantially as described.

5. Pin automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby and *arrying one or more brake shoes, astationary friction rim, a fan wheel yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, an inclosing case for confining the airsurroi'lnding the fan carrying element, and means for controlling thepressure of the brake shoes on the friction rim, operated by thevariation in the speed of the fan wheel with relation to the speed ofrotation of said brake shoe supporting elenicnt, substantially asdescribed.

(5. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingclement rotated thereby and carrying one or more brake shoes, astationary friction rim, a fan wheel. yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, an inclosing case for confining the air surroumlingthe fan carrying element, said case being provided with a plurality ofbattle plates for obstructing the current of air formed therein by thefans, and means for controlling the pressure of the brake shoes on thefriction rim, operated by the variation in the speed of the fan wheelwith relation to the speed of rotation of said brake shoe supportingelement, substantially as described.

7. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingclement rotated thereby and carrying one or more brake shoes, one ormore rock shafts mounted in said support, each having an eccentric foroperating on its respective brake shoe, a main operating lever for saidrock shaft or shafts, a friction rim, a rotatable elementyieldablyconnected to said supportingiclement, and means carried by said rotaryelement adapted to engage main lever and impart movement theretoaccording to the variation in speed between said rotary element and saidbrake carrying element, whereby the pressure on the brake shoes will becontrolled by the said variation of speed, substantially as described.

8. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby and carrying one or more brake shoes, one ormore rock shafts mounted in said support, each having an eccentric foroperating on its respective brake shoe, a main operating lever for saidrock shaft or shafts, a friction rim, a rotatable element yieldablyconnected to said supporting element, and an eccentric carried by saidrotary element and yoked to said main lever, whereby to operate the samethrough variation in the relationship between said rotary ClQll'lOlltand the brake shoe carrying support, substantially as described.

t). An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby, one or more rock shafts mounted in saidsupporting element, each having an eccentric portion, a pair of brakeshoes of semicircular form carried by said supporting element and havingbearing openings in their meeting ends to receive the eccentric portionof their respective rock shaft, a friction rim, a rotatable elementyicldably connected to said supporting element, and means controlled bythe variation in speed between the supporting element and said rotaryelement whereby to operate said rock shaft or shafts and cause thecontraction or expansion of the brake shoes, substantially as described.

10. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby, a friction rim concentric to said shaft, a pairof semi-circular brake shoes arranged to bear on the inside of saidfriction rim, :1 pair of semi-circular brake shoes arranged to bear onthe outside of said friction rim, rock shafts carried by said supportingelement, provided with an eccentric portion operating within the meetingends of each pair of brake shoes to expand and contract the same, arotatable element yieldably connected to said si'ipporting element, andmeans controlled by the variation in speed between the supportingelement and said rotary element whereby to ope ate said rock shafts andcause the contraction or expansion of the brake shoes, substantially asdescribed.

11. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingclement rotated thereby, a friction rim, concentric to said shaft, :1pair of scmi-circular brake shoes arranged to bear on the inside of saidfriction rim, a pair of semi-circular b'akc shoes arrz nged to bear onthe outside of said friction rim, rock shafts carried by said supportingelement, provided each with an eccentric portion operating within themeeting ends of each pair of brake shoes to expand and contract thesame, rocker arms for said rock shafts, means for connecting said rockerarms, a main operating lever for operating said rock shafts through saidconnecting means, a rotary element yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, and means controlled by the variation in speedbetween the supporting element and said r0- tary element whereby toengage and move said main lever back and forth according to saidvariation in speed, substantially as described.

12. An automatic speed governor, comprising a rotary shaft, a supportingelement rotated thereby, a friction rim, concentric to said shaft, apair of semi-circular brake shoes arranged to bear on the friction rim,one or more rock shafts mounted in said supporting element, each havingan eccentric portion to work within one of the meet- 'ing ends of saidbrake shoes, and an eccentric portion to work within the meeting end ofthe other brake shoe, a rotatable element yieldably connected to saidsupporting element, and means controlled by the variation in speedbetween the supporting element and said rotary element whereby tooperate said rock shafts and cause the contraction or ex pansion of thebrake shoes, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEVI RHODES. Witnesses D. S. BURKHART, H. L. HERKELRATH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G.

